how can america be called a christian nation........?

Question

when the number of nonbelievers and the number of people who are "societal christians" (people who are christian for no other reason then their parents being "christian") outnumber "true" christians?

Answer 1

And just how do you judge who is a "true" Christian?

Answer 2

"True" Christians? That's a bold statement.

Our elected officials swear an oath on the Bible (and when one US representative used the Qu'ran for a separate ceremony, some of his colleagues asked for his resignation), "God" is stamped on our money (which is humorously heretical) and much of our laws come from English Common Law, which has Biblical traditions (such as Bankruptcy, the forgiveness of debts).

The only other country that I have found similar to the US is Turkey in that it claims to be secular but culturally very religious.

If the most devout believers are more politically active than their "societal Christian" cousins, then votes count more than people, too.

Answer 3

So, maybe it isn't.

When Europeans first came to the Americas, they were predominantly 'christian' - Protestants and Catholics - but as more people from all parts of the world came, the percentages changed.

Demographics change over time. Whether 'America' - I assume you mean the US of A, by the way - is 'christian' or not doesn't seem important any more (if it ever was). What is important is that all men and women are free and that citizens have the right to vote to determine their collective destiny.

Answer 4

The United States is a secular nation, in the sense that our government is forbidden to establish any one religion as the religion officially recognized by the state. Men and women of all faiths and creeds are welcomed here, and may practice their religion here . . . or practice none at all. Our laws forbid any sort of discrimination based on religion.

But the United States may be said to be a Christian nation in the narrow sense, in that our heritage, our laws, and our history are very much rooted in the Christian tradition. Christian thought informs the underlying philosophy of the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as well as the Declaration of Independence.

Answer 5

You can't make a nation Christian. Christianity is for the individual heart. So Christians by tradition are as close as a nation can get to being Christians. I agree with you, we aren't Christian, we're just practicing a cultural ritual. Ritually, we're more Christian than anything else. That's why we're called "A Christian Nation"

Answer 6

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.
This is not a Christian nation.
The reason why the ten commandments are forbidden in our courthouses is because it would convert them into Christian courthouses. The same is applied to our schools.
The first amendment and the separation of church and state makes religion a personal choice, not a national one. Therefore there is no national or state supported religion.
Christians should be thankful that their religion is not part of our government, because if it were, the government would force them to worship a certain way, or force them to read a certain version of the bible that it sees fit.
Like your religion? Keep it away from authority and don't make your religion an authority to others!

Answer 7

America was founded on Christian principles, by majority Christian leaders/citizenry. If you read all the founding documents (i.e., The Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, etc, etc.) you will see that belief and trust in Almighty God/Jesus Christ is the core, the foundation, and center of all American things.

The majority of Americans ARE Christian. True Christianity is NOT transferable. Jesus Christ is a one on one loving Savior. My being raised in a Christian home, allows me to come to learn about Jesus Christ and Almighty God early on, but my parents being born-again believing Christians does not mean in ANY way that I am a born-again Christian who will go to Heaven when I die, UNLESS, I too, of my own free will admit that Jesus Christ is the son of Almighty God, and ask Him into my heart and life and accept Him as my own personal Lord and Savior.

Answer 8

America was specifically not a Christian nation, and the Treaty of Tripoli of 1797 signed by the United States said so, in Article 11. See, America and others had trouble with Barbary Coast pirates (off the shore of what we now call Libya), and wanted to put an end to it, so they made a treaty with the Bey of Tripoli, their leader. The U.S. intent was to avoid war with a Muslim nation (imagine that!)


http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/diplomacy/barbary/bar1796t.htm#art11

Answer 9

Well the argument is that our founding fathers were "Christian" but the fact is, many were Deists and FreeMasons and Jefferson was reviled by Christians in his day for his stand on religious freedom.

Better watch out tho', I asked the question "If our founding fathers being Christian makes this a Christian nation, is it also a "white" nation?" and it was reported as a violation.

So don't be surprised if this question is reported and deleted.

Apparently questioning weather or not America is a "Christian Nation" is a violation.

Answer 10

How about because our laws are still, atheists tireless efforts notwithstanding, based upon Judaeo-Christian principles, ethics and morality?

How about because most of the private charity in this country is supported mostly by Jews and their spiritual children, Christians?

How about because, whether they are regular attendees or not, most of this nation's Christians still check that box on any form that asks for a religious preference?

How about because, despite the heirs of O'Hair this nation is STILL dedicated to One Nation, UNDER GOD.? Not Allah, not Krishna, not the Atman, but the Judaeo-Christian concept.

How about because the Founders of this nation, whether or not they professed a specific denomination, WERE basically Christian in both their faith and their practices?

How about because we're still a nation that does NOT charge a special tax against persons of any faith but the Christian and does this because as Christians we know it to be an abominable practice?

You don't like it like that, feel free to pledge allegiance to some other country. Just abjure your citizenship here and go.

Answer 11

Who calls America a Christian nation? Its founders were diests... people who didn't even qualify as "societal christians."

Besides, isn't it kind of against the principles of Christianity to call some people "true" Christians? Are the others false? Even if they are, it's new to me that Christ asked you to make that judgment.